In September met representatives in de African countries of climate conferenceen Africa Climate Summit (ACS) in Kenya in order to discuss common solutions of climate change. The conference resulted in the Nairobi Declaration - which, among other things, proposes a global carbon tax to large emitters must contribute with sea resources to low-income countries. The declaration will form the basis of the countries' joint strategy at the climate conference COP28, which will be held in November.
The summit was attended by representatives from the countries' councils of ministers, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, academia and different parts of civil society.
The running point in the declaration was that the African continent has historically not been the driving force in the climate change that its inhabitants now have to suffer the serious environmental, economic and social consequences of. However, the countries are ready to be part of the solution, say the African leaders.
Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, who is also the chair of the African Union Committee on Climate Change, took command of the work towards a common climate agenda. He believes that this is a way for African countries to position themselves in the global economic systems that constantly put them in a disadvantageous position.
- We demand a fair playing field for our countries to have access to the investments needed to transform our potential into opportunities, Ruto said.
During the summit, the participants agreed, among other things, to stand behind the proposal for a global system for carbon dioxide tax, to reach the companies that contribute the most to carbon dioxide emissions. The tax would apply to companies in maritime transport and aviation, among other things. This would make it possible to direct the revenues of the global companies to sustainable solutions in low-income countries, such as adaptation measures against extreme weather and the development of renewable energy, reports the BBC.
Investments in African countries must increase
Only two percent of global investments in renewable energy have gone to African countries in the last decade. Africa is particularly exposed to climate change - which has given rise to, among other things extreme periods of drought and devastating floods – and the heating goes on faster there than anywhere else. Therefore, investments would have to increase tenfold to 100 billion dollars per year to reach the 17 goals in Agenda 2030 – which was adopted by UN member states in 2015.
- We are calling for a system-wide response to the incipient debt crisis, outside of existing frameworks, that creates the financial space that all developing countries need to finance development and climate mobilization, formulated the African leaders in the Nairobi Declaration, according to UNECA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Climate conference COP28 in Dubai
COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is the 28th meeting of the the countries that has concluded the Paris Agreement - the climate agreement that will limit the global temperaturethe turn increase. The focus of this meeting is, among other things climate finance and the energy transition. In addition to this is the ambition to create the most including the COP meeting so far.
